Ghana Wheat Initiative to promote domestic production launched

Wheat is a critical part of Ghana’s food supply, yet it is consistently imported into the country in large quantities.

Data from Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) indicates that, the country imports more than US$230 million worth of wheat annually.

To cut down on the import and save the country from draining its foreign exchange reserves, a leading agricultural company, Arima Farms Ghana, and Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CRI-CSIR) have launched the Ghana Wheat Initiative.

The project is designed to promote domestic wheat production, reduce imports, and create economic opportunities for farmers.

Speaking at the launch, Saalai Manikam, Managing Director of Arima Farms Ghana, highlighted the significance of the initiative.

“The intervention marks a bold step toward ensuring food security in Ghana, thus, it is important for all stakeholders to support the effort to achieve wheat self-sufficiency and empower farmers”.

As part of the initiative, CRI will research and develop wheat varieties that are drought tolerant, high yielding, and biofortification with zinc, iron, and protein.

Other varieties such as Wheat Pride 999, developed by Greenpride (India), will be introduced alongside wheat varieties from CIMMYT. 326 wheat germplasm were unveiled at the launch.

“These varieties have undergone rigorous testing across six regions and agroecological zones of Ghana and have shown promising results”, Saalai hinted.

The Ghana Wheat Initiative aims to kick-start large-scale domestic wheat production while reducing Ghana’s reliance on imports.

With growing concerns over global wheat supply chains, the initiative represents a major step toward self-sufficiency, ensuring that Ghana can meet its own wheat demands while supporting local farmers and industries.

The Ghana Wheat Initiative is the result of a two-year research and development collaboration between Arima Farms and CRI, with support from key partners, including Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Indian High Commission in Ghana, the West and Central Africa Wheat Network (WECAWHEAT), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana, and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).